BIRD NEWS:12

While gazing out towards the pier, awaiting the beach birds I was familiar with, a dark shape loomed on the pebbled horizon...

...Moments later, it revealed itself as one of those black birds I am not good at identifying - rook, raven, crow...?

A little later, my friends arrived after swirling about in the air a little. They did not come close at first, despite the fact I was seated and waving a plastic bag of goodies at them - so I finally walked over the ridge to alert them to the fact that 'food-provider' was there again.

That gradually made contact with their brains and they one by one made their slow way towards me - and the food - after several distractions.

BIRD NEWS:11

February continued, and still in the first week I managed to capture two shots of Plate-face the song thrush taking a drink at the bird bath. Later on, she was diving under the tubs to extract hedgehog food pellets, whenever Mr Black and son did not chase her away.

The second week remained cold and wet, so I threw out pieces of organic apple to add to the foods available for the birds. It was very quiet one day, and not just because the rain had stopped and the wind died down - this fellow was hanging out in my tree! All the smaller garden birds had scooted into hiding - silently.

The weather warmed up for Valentine's Day, just a degree or two, but enough to make a difference in the feel of the air. A day or so before, I peeped out the bathroom window, sneakily. Ones bathroom window is not often a place to birdwatch, but I have neighbors across the street with a bird bath - and birdbox, feeders, etc... and they get a lot of starlings, jackdaws, blue-tits, and sparrows to watch.

Enough snooping! On Valentine's Day itself, I took a 700-run trip. Regular readers will know that this generally means pigeons on the beach and parrots darting about their cage...

For once, I have a surprise for you. At first, there was not a pigeon in sight, but there were beach birds about. Among the beach birds was this small fellow. I think it is a wagtail - but might be a long-tailed tit. I am uncertain as it bopped about and did not come closer.

BIRD NEWS:10

As I write, it is now the first week of February and I have a lazy day at home with deliveries due and no set plans til work this evening. I therefore took my time to enjoy a half glass red wine and some homemade garlic loaf while cooking a roast veg lunch in the kitchen - with my camera at hand. Mr Black sat on the hedge in a sunny spell, just as lazy as myself.

 

Meanwhile, Mr Bob perched on the washing line, prior to diving into the bird table to dine on his feast. There had been a mild fluttering of snowflakes for some of the morning, but not enough to lay or last. It was however, a little colder than the past few days had been. When I next peeped away from slicing onion and cutting carrot, Mr Black and Curio were fluffed up in the apple tree as a few more flakes of snow fell down around us.

There was activity in the bird bath, and I spotted - as did my camera - a blackcap taking a bath. At least, the poor mite tried to have a bath - but there was only a thin layer of fresh water sitting on top a hard layer of ice in which to bathe. It tried a few times, but ended up just taking a drink. Curio then flew in to the plastic bird bath and did likewise...

BIRD NEWS:9

My next two snaps are of Mr Bob the cheeky robin. Here he is sitting on the washing line. Earlier on, I spotted Mr Bob on the tree outside my window and went over and placed some seed and suet pellets on the sill. Mr Bob is finally getting used to me - and was so starved - he shot over and snatched a pellet and flew back to the tree before I had shut and left the window.

There are only 3 birds who trust me that much in this country, though I was well trusted in Wollongong. Here, Mr Black, Mr Bob and Curio will risk flying close to me. Curio actually seems the tamest - she won't even fly away if I am in the garden hanging out laundry.

There is Plate-face again, in the bird table this time. But only moments later, Mr Bob had flown in as she flew out. 'Where are the pigeons?' any regular readers who have re-found my blog may be asking... 

Well, here is Pidge... sheltering from a few gusts of wild wind in the last couple of days of January.

BIRD NEWS:8

The final few days of January continued with wet and windy weather alternating with sunny or overcast patches. The very last day however gave us some snow! Finally!!!

Photowise, I tried yet again to get some good shots of Plate-face the fatter of the two thrushes...

...and a friend snuck in to join her...

Here she is munching away at a chunk of something she must have found elsewhere - I certainly don't buy or eat white bread...

OOPS! She spotted me! She then hopped off into the veg plot, where you can see my mooli and garlic. The next photo is supposed to be of Plate-face being observed by a jackdaw in the bird table. However, the thrush did not show up amongst the soil, bush, grass, and debris, so I have only shown the jackdaw. At least, I tried to - but the photo was not very successful.

There she is again - off in the undergrowth, searching for food...and taking refreshments in the stone bath.

BIRD NEWS:7

For the remainder of my trip, Bluey and Naboo decided to play hidey on me. Each time I clicked, there were bars in the way or blurs of quick activity. I did my best to get a decent shot of each bird, but...

Bluey hid and Naboo hid. Then Naboo peeped out, but only showed his face...

 

...while Bluey stuck his head behind a bar to hide. Naboo then danced sideways, and then peeped between his 2 hide-outs - bed bag and the cage. Back home, the rest of the weekend was wet.

It was the annual RSPB birdwatch, and for the 3rd time in this country, I participated. I had done a similar garden-watch and bird-count in Australia, but they did not have a set date and you could send in multiple 20 minute or one hour watches throughout the year.

This year, I spotted: one jackdaw, 5 sparrows, one dunnock, 4 blackbirds, one magpie, 2 wood pigeons, 3 starlings and one robin. This may sound like plenty for one hour of observation - but I was disappointed that our thrushes, doves, blue-tits, and more of the starling did not show up.

BIRD NEWS:6

I walked along onto the gravelly beach when no pigeons surfaced, a little to the other side of my usual haunt. I had spotted ONE of the gang. He soon spotted me, seemed to remember me slightly, and walked slowly towards me. However it was not until I poured out some seed from my tub onto the stones that he came a bit closer. You might just spot a second member of the gang in the far distance - if you have good eyesight!

My pigeon pal seemed to dance around the seeds suspiciously at first, but I put this down to the fact that a gang of seemingly homeless men had moved into the shelter that I normally sit in. Soon, the other bird came close, hopeful not of food but romance...

After his departure, the first bird surveyed the food once more. Next we move on to the indoor birdlife I encounter on my usual coffee stop with a friend in Lancing. Bluey the budgie seemed curious to see me - possibly as I skipped a trip to visit last month and he had to recall who I was - oh yes, that lady with the shiny pink box that stares at him...

Meanwhile, Naboo was up to his usual anti-photo antics, bouncing about just as I try to take a shot...